Now one of her specialities was her mashed potatoes. She really made some creamy, fluffy, wonderful mashed potatoes. She used to make a really lovely spread for Thanksgiving actually. Of course we had the turkey and stuffing, but we always did stove top. I don't think she liked the idea of stuffing the dressing inside the bird. We usually had some simple corn from a can, probably green giant. There were always rolls in one of those big clear plastic bulk bags from the grocery store and she would warm in them in the oven and it was a good as fresh baked bread to us. Gravy of course but she always got several jars of turkey gravy from giant and we didn't care, we always loved all of it. OH OH cranberry sauce from the can in that slimy jelly cylinder, which I loved. I started bringing my green bean casserole and if you remember my post from last year, apparently I was the only one who liked that one. Lastly was Mom's mashed potatoes. That was one of the only things she did from scratch and like I said, she did it well. That big beautiful yellow tinted glass bowl would come out on the table just steaming with its white fluffy buttery peaks of potato glory.
We all sat down at Mom's big oval wooden table, where she probably laid out some festive fall place mats with pumpkins and leaves on them, which we were NOT allowed to get one drop of food on. Fresh baked cookies and a pumpkin pie lingered on the edge of the table teasing us. We got out Mom's yellow ceramic plates with the brown painted flor de lis on them and started piling on the food.
Sometimes it was just the four of us and we would sit and eat all fast and furious and be done in 15 mins and Mom would always comment about how it took all morning to make this silly meal and 15 mins to eat it and would huff at Dad for finishing first.
Well one year she was determined to serve Dad some more mashed potatoes after he had finished his meal. I don't know what got in to her, but she was just funny like that sometimes and she probably just found it amusing to force some more food on him. I remember her asking if everyone liked the food and wanted more and I remember her asking Dad a few times if he really liked the potatoes. I don't think she was very proud of them that year. She either made them runny or lumping. Now of course Dad said he liked them, that he liked them a lot. The next thing I know Mom is up at the stove grabbing the pot of extra potatoes and walking over to Dad with it. She says "well have some more then". I think she was convinced that he didn't really like them. He said he was fine and he did like them. She has the spoon full of potatoes now out of the pot and hovering over his plate. "well then you should have some more, are your sure you liked them" she said.
"Yes Connie, I liked them, they were just fine, I liked them fine."
"Well then have some more if you sure you really did like them."
And finally Dad exclaims...
"Connie! I liked the Mashed Bah-Dah-Blame-Potatoes!!"
Now my Mom wasn't the only one with little sayings. When Dad wanted to curse so bad but couldn't because little ears in the corn field were near, then Dah-Blame-It was his go to. My sister and I even wrote a song called "Dah-Blame-Daddy" once after he accidentally backed into a parked car at the Burger King in the Manassas Junction and yelled; "Dah-Blamed-it, Where'd that car come come!?"
Well to drive home his love, on this day, for my Mother's mashed potatoes, Dah-Blame had to come out. I I think everyone at that table knew once and for all that he liked those potatoes.
He got an extra helping, Mom sat back down, and we all finished our meal.....Dah-Blame-it!
In honor of the holiday I made an interesting turkey meat loaf that I am calling Thanksgiving Meat Loaf.
I made it with a really nice homemade and simple squash casserole. Enjoy!
Thanksgiving Turkey Meatloaf
1lb Ground Turkey
2 med mushrooms (baby bella is best)
1 Tsp fresh rosemary
2 fresh sage leaves
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup small diced red onion
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp fennel seed
1 tsp minced fresh garlic
salt and pepper
Lily helped
mix all ingredients together and make into a loaf. Place on a baking sheet or roasting pan and cover with tin foil. Cook at 350 for about 30 mins. Check and give more time if needed.
I also made a simple country gravy with bacon grease, flour, and milk and poured that over top.
Squash Casserole
3 med yellow Squash chopped
1/2 med red onion chopped
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup light cheddar
1/2 cup light mexican blend cheese
1 tsp minced garlic
salt and pepper
Saute Squash on med with olive oil until barely soft. Add onion and cook till all are nice and soft. Turn off heat and mash a little with a potato masher. In a bowl mix the rest of the ingredients and then add veggies from the stove. Pour mixture into a casserole dish and cook on 350 for about 25 mins.
Lily says "Cheese! I liked this casserole!"
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